Method of making torpedo nets



Feb. 8, 1949. BRICKMAN 2,461,030

METHOD OF MAKING TORPEDO NETS Filed March 6, 1945 V ELE 2 Patented Feb. 8, 1949 METHOD OF MAKING TORPEDO NETS Alan E. Brickman, New Haven, Conn., asslgnor to The American Steel and Wire Company of New Jersey, a corporation of New Jersey Application March 6, 1945, Serial No. 581,311

This invention relates to a method of making a torpedo net using a particular type of slip clip. In certain types of torpedo nets for protecting moving vessels, the torpedo is caught in the net by means of the propeller after it has passed almost completely through the net. The openirigs in the net are of greater circumference than the circumference of the torpedo, and in'order to better distribute the impact stresses and provide the extra strand which becomes wound into the propeller, it is necessary that the clips connecting the stranded wire structures to form the openings in the net, should permit the wire structures to slip with respect to each other. The type of clip used prior to my invention consisted of two substantially flat plates connected by means of two rivets which passed through spacers between the flat plates, the wire structures being gripped by the plates between the spacers. With this construction the wire structure was mashed so that the life of the net was shortened. There was also very little contact between the clip and the wire structure with the result that it was hard to control the figure at which slip would occur. Furthermore, the old type clip created a great deal of resistance to movement of the ship through the water, thereby slowing down its speed.

It is an object of my invention to provide a method of making a torpedo net in such a manner that the slip clip will contact the stranded structures substantially around their periphery.

Another object is to provide a method of making a torpedo net in such a manner that the figure at which slip occurs can be controlled.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the clip before assembly;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the clip assembled on the wire rope in the assembling apparatus;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the clip in position on the wire rope;

Figure 4 is a, perspective view of a second embodiment of my invention showing the clip assembled on the wire rope; and

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the clip of Figure 4 assembled on the wire rope.

Referring more particularly to the-drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates the body of the slip clip which is provided with two abutting openings 4 therethrou'gh of substantially the same size as the stranded wire structures 6 and 8 to 1 Claim. (Cl. 140-11) which the clips is to be fastened. As shown, the two wire structures have the same diameter, but it will be understood that they may be of different diameters, in which case the openings 4 will also be of different diameters. The ends of the openings 4 are bell mouthed at III to reduce the amount of edge abrasion of the stranded structures against the clip. The body 2 has a closed bottom connecting the openings 4 and is provided with two upwardly extending arms [2 forming the outer walls of the openings 4 and which are normally separated at their tops to permit assembly of the clip on the stranded wire structures.

In assembling the clip on the stranded wire structures, the clip is placed around the stranded structures and placed in the opening ll of an anvil IS. A ram l8, having an opening 20 shaped in accordance with the desired assembled shape of the clip, is then pressed against the clip, the amount of pressure applied varying in accordance with the figure at which slip is desired. The total amount of slip is proportional to this applied pressure and to the area of contact between the clip and the stranded structure which is dependent upon the length Of clip for any given size of stranded structure. After the clip is assembled on the wire structures as described above, the two arms are welded together at 22, care being taken that the weld metal does not penetrate into the stranded structures. The weld need not extend the full length of the opening and in some cases where slip is desired at a low figure, the weld may be omitted entirely.

Figures 4 and 5 disclose a second embodiment of the invention which is identical with the first embodiment, except that the upper part of each of the arms is provided with a keyway 24 extending longitudinally of the body for receiving a key 26 to hold the arms l2 together. In assembling this clip, the stranded structures 6 and B are placed in the openings 4 of the clip, the key 24 is placed in the valley between the wire structures, and the assembly placed in the anvil 16. Pressure is then applied by means of the ram 18 in the manner described above to fasten the clip to the wire structures 6 and 8, and to lock the arms l2 together by means of the key 26. It will be seen that the slip clip of my invention has very little resistance to flow as compared to the prior type used, so that the speed of the vessel is increased a half knot by using the clip of my invention instead of the prior type.

While two embodiments of my invention are shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claim.

I claim: The method of making a torpedo net having intersections, each intersection having a pair of stranded wire structures connected by a slip clip having two abutting relatively smooth openings therethrough of substantially the same size as the stranded wire structure, which method comprises placing a clip around a pair of stranded 10 1,422, 0

structures and cold pressing it into relatively tight contact with the stranded structures substantially throughout their periphery with a pressure sufilcient to normally hold the stranded structures and clip against relative movement but insumcient to prevent slippage at applied loads, and then welding the upper part of the two arms together while the clip and stranded structures are so assembled.

ALAN E. BRICKMAN.

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 277,632 Upton May 15, 1883 291,693 Cole Jan. 8, 1884 655,905 Maxstadt .1. Aug. 14, 1900 v Bump July 11, 1922 1,368,480 Brown Feb. 15, 1921 1,982,501 Douglas Nov. 27, 1934 2,149,209 Dickie et a1. Feb. 28, 1939 2,171,280 Tondeur Aug. 29, 1939 15 2,289,692 Blackburn July 14, 1942 2,307,216 Graham Jan. 5, 1 943 2,327,683 Warner et al. Aug. 24, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 20 Number Country Date 151,776 Switzerland 'Mar. 16, 1932 4 REFERENCES orrnn The following references are of record in-the file of this patent: 

